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SLK 55 AMG VS BMW M3 E92.. and the end outcome was??

14K views 30 replies 14 participants last post by  ooxx 
#1 ·
Hey just found this video on youtube, and i thought id post it up on here for the slk 55 amg owners as im one myself. To be honest i was really suprised with the outcome as both cars were said to be standerd.

Enjoy

 
#7 ·
Can someone translate the French please? All I understand was something about a slight advantage.
 
#8 ·
There's more to this video than what we are seeing I believe.

I love both the SLK55 and E92 M3 but there is no way that video is showing a stock SLK55, or at the very least the E92 M3 wasn't pushing it all the way.

SLK55 ~3500 pounds | 5.5L V8 | 360 HP | 376 TQ
M3 ~3700 pounds | 4.0L V8 | 414 HP | 295 TQ

This video was from a roll so it eliminates the issue of racing from a dig.

Worse case scenario these two machines should be really close to one another 1 to 2 car lengths at most.

Someone needs to translate the french I think the clues lie in the words. :tu:
 
#9 ·
I always find these horn races futile. It is seldom a true measure of actual performance as much as it is ability to anticipate. An SLK55 has no chance of beating my SLK350 in one.

That is not bravado, but is fact. (I plead the fith.) I will explain the how, but the why is simple: an automatic cannot hide it's revs and be in the right gear while a manual can.

(PS: I will not do this on public roads, the track is the only place to prove one's worth.)

If I hear a clever 55 driver in the right gear with the right revs, I am going to smile and wave them off, and they will not get the opportunity to win. Only fighting battles you can win and all that.

If they are loping along, then let them learn the lesson:

1 MPH more speed is 1.5 feet a second. I increase by 1 or 2 MPH before the third horn beep, this is almost undetectable. Clutch in so they do not hear the RPM, then blip and dump right at the third beep (which due to people's subconscious pacing is easy to anticipate) to make the car leap. If you are honking, delay the thrid beep to screw up their preperations.

Now, the 350 has 10 or 15 MPH before the auto trans in the SLK55 hooks up and the 350 has put about 25 feet of distance on the 55 by the time the 55's power comes into play. That distance will take the 55 about 37 more MPH to make up over the 350's current higher speed to catch up, and with the 350 steadily increasing speed, and increasing distance, even if at a slower rate, the SLK55 will have to make great strides.

Before the 55 gets almost even with the 350 (in my expierence up to the 350's rear bumper,) the 350 has reached 100 and can brake and claim victory.

It's a cheap shot, admittedly, but it just goes to prove what Mickey Thompson did a long time ago: a cleaver driver who knows how to bend the rules will be the one who wins. Something I do not usually practice as I prefer honor to glory.

Back to the subject: a properly launched 55 from 30 MPH should have no problem accelerating away from an M3 at speeds under 100 MPH, as the torque numbers would accelerate the weight faster. Horsepower stretches the top end, torque throws you out of the gate.

A dual clutch (not SMG) or a manual M3 from a standing start would be hard for the 55 as the 55 just does not have the axel for it, and has that automatic. An automatic or SMG M3 vs the SLK55, that would be close, I would give the 55 the nod there.
 
#10 ·
Interesting comment Byron and I agree, however not sure if 350 would take that much Lead before 55 passes over.

What would be nice to know is what is the right gear and rev for an slk55 to start at if it's a 30mph or 60mph rolling start range. Plus at what point to change the gear and maintain the rev (I.e always keep it between 4000rpm to 6500rpm to get max torque).
 
#11 ·
Interesting comment Byron and I agree, however not sure if 350 would take that much Lead before 55 passes over.

What would be nice to know is what is the right gear and rev for an slk55 to start at if it's a 30mph or 60mph rolling start range. Plus at what point to change the gear and maintain the rev (I.e always keep it between 4000rpm to 6500rpm to get max torque).
[Cough...] Mine did... [...Cough]
 
#14 ·
After all, it's only fair: 2 more cylinders, 2 more litres of displacement, and probably 100 fewer lbs. of driver. If I can't even up or get an edge, why bother?

So is it really cheating?

I do not cheat in racing. I do not modify my car then try to slip it into stock class as many do, etc.
 
#18 ·
yeah i watched that video last week, theoutcome was a bit odd to me so I asked the guy if the SLK is stock and he said yes.....
 
#21 ·
Based on 2005 SLK55,

Best standing launch method is brake torque to 700 RPM.

4,000 RPM to 4,300 RPM is the top of the torque curve, but anything from 2,000 on looks meaty. Taking the car far beyond 6,000 RPM is useless as after 6 grand, both torque and horsepower drop like a stone.

Optimum shift points:

1st 6,410 @ 34 MPH
2nd 6,380 @ 52
3rd 6,230 @ 76
4th 6,160 @ 106
5th 5,860 @ 139
6th 5,240 @ 152
 
#22 ·
Byron please, the limitation for the 55 is traction.
Without traction control you would go through rear tires extremely quick.
With traction control and a heavy foot you will go through rear brakes extremely quick.
The only way the 55 will go quick is better traction or a light foot.
A 55 with drag radial is almost as fast in the ÂĽ as a 55 with a SC
 
#23 ·
Byron please, the limitation for the 55 is traction.
Without traction control you would go through rear tires extremely quick.
With traction control and a heavy foot you will go through rear brakes extremely quick.
The only way the 55 will go quick is better traction or a light foot.
A 55 with drag radial is almost as fast in the ÂĽ as a 55 with a SC

I do not understand your point. The limit for any car is traction.

Shuey is not a great driver. Shuey is a great contact patch / traction manager. Racing is all about maintaing the traction. Until we have flying cars, nothing else matters more.

As far as the RPM shifting, that has to do with accleration not only on runs, but where the car is happiest as far as maintaining RPM's when downshifting and shifting out of corners, where you may only be doing part throttle, but want to keep the engine at optimum spin.

Sure putting big tires on solves "most" problems, but I thought he was talking about best ways to improve his manual shifting of the automatic.

PS: Not true about the "only way". The biggest problem of the 55 is weight, and it would be quicker in a straight line, and through the curves, if weight was taken off of it, even if you put the SLK350 smaller tires on it.
 
#27 ·
Also, don’t forget the adaptive program for the tranny; you have a spirited driving style and the proper gear selection will happen in milliseconds.
I idle along at 30mph and step on it, the car will break traction almost instantaneously.
I have learned, for the quickest get up and go, is a initial quick but minor push on the gas, to drop in to the proper gear, followed by a further depressing of the peddle that mirrors the movement of the tachometer; with this I can keep the traction control from cutting power and applying the rear brakes to control wheel spin.
Can’t wait for spring to experience the performance with the Quaife :burnout:
 
#30 ·
I'm not trying to start a debate, but are there anyone in the DC area that would be willing to meet up with their 55? I'm really curious to see how the slk55 compares to the e92 m3 in straight line speed. I think they're pretty darn close. Let me know if anyone would be interested.
 
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